Electrical connector



May 17, .1949 C w. H. THRASHER 2,470,196

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Fgled Nov. 28, 1947' I u renta r A t/o meys Patented May 1.7, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to electrical connectors and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector which is simple and economical in its construction and effective in use.

Another object of the invention is the provin sion of novel means for mounting an electrical connector upon an electrical device with which it is to be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector having a novel combined body and bracket therefor.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following speciiication taken in conjunction with the draW- ings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, and

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Generally, the invention comprises an electrical connector which may be easily and simply attached to an electrical appliance such as, for eX- ample, an electrical hot plate or the like. It comprises a body formed of a single piece of metal bent into a U-shape and having one of the arms of the body thus formed continue in a vertical direction to form one side of a clamp or bracket. Another side of the clamp is interconnected therewith by means of a bolt and a thumbscrew is provided for the bolt. A socket member is welded to the inner sides of the outer ends of the arms of the body and the base o f the body has mounted therein a pair of suitably insulated prongs which extend inwardly of the body toward the socket member.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein an electrical connector having a U-shaped body I comprising an upper arm II, a base I2 and a lower arm I3. The outer end of the arm I I extends vertically to form a clamp member I 4 through the upper end of which extends a bolt I having an enlarged head I6. A thumbscrew I'I is provided for the bolt I5.

A socket member I8 is formed of a single piece of ilat material bent substantially into an oval shape and is beveled, as indicated at I9 and thereafter inserted between the outer ends of the arms I I and I3 and Welded thereto.

A pair of electrical connectors or prongs 20 ex tend inwardly through the base I2 to positions within the socket member I8. Insulating members 2 I, formed of rubber or the like, are adapted to surround the prongs 20 adjacent the base I2. A block of asbestos 22 is placed within the body I0 adjacent the base I2 and a like block 23 is placed against the outer side of the base I2. Lock nuts 2A are threaded upon the prongs 2D within the body I0 and each of the prongs 20 is provided With a pair of lock nuts 25 0n its outer end between each of which pair `of nuts 25 is mounted an electrical lead wire 26.

In operation, it will be seen that the device is of extremely simple yet rigid construction and that after it is assembled it is merely necessary to clamp the device to an electrical appliance by means of the bolt I5 with its enlarged head I 6 and the clamping arm I4 and thumbscrew I7 and that thereafter the leads 26 may be connected in the conventional manner whereupon a female electrical connector may be inserted within the socket I8 and the prongs 20 will make contact with said female member. The ilanged portion I9 will act as a guide for the insertion of the female member.

While but one form of the invention has .been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising a U-shaped body member, a socketmember aiilxed between the arms thereof, a pair of contact members extending through the base of the body member to the socket member, insulation between the contact members, a clamping arm formed integrally with the body and extending at a right angle therefrom and fastening means carried at the outer end of said clamping arm.

WILLIAM HENRY THRASHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,072,460 Hoffman Sept. 9, 1913 1,114,413 Taeubert Oct. 20, 1914 1,473,645 Russell Nov. 13, 1923 1,615,464 Marsden Jan. 25, 1927 1,728,291 Kuhn Sept. 17, 1929 1,684,742 Picklesimer Sept. 18, 1928 2,140,173 Smith Dec. 13, 1938 

